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  >  Food   >  Bangkok Street Food Guide: 7 Things You Need To Try

What’s Bangkok without it’s streets full of fresh cooked Thai cuisine? Part of the reason it’s so cheap to travel through Thailand is that amazing sea food and authentic Thai is always available around the corner regardless of where you are; and you can eat an entire meal in 300 Baht give or take. Served fresh and served in abundance, the food on the streets is every foodie’s dream come true.

A first-timer always walks through these streets with the risk of gagging at the pretty sight of cut up dead sea creatures lying on a cart. I took it upon myself to raid the streets of Bangkok this time around to come up with a few safe bets to please your taste buds while shocking your stomach as little as possible:

1. Fresh Mango with Sticky Rice:

Mango served with sticky rice and cooked in coconut milk is at the heart of this popular dessert. Only it doesn’t sound all that appetizing to think of it. One bite later I had crossed over to the other side. Have it for breakfast or dessert or just a passing-by snack as you come across one, but whatever you do- don’t skip it! The best place to find it fresh is Khao San Road.

Pad Thai with Prawn at Sukhumvit Soi 11

2. Pad Thai with Prawn:

Available in abundance, everywhere! There isn’t a single street food stall in Sukhumvit, Khao San, China Town or anywhere else in Bangkok where Pad Thai isn’t available. It’s best had with prawn, but be warned- authentic Pad Thai is slightly sweet unlike the ones we get here in India. Didi’s at Sukhumvit Soi 11 serves the best around the area.

3. Fresh Juice:

Recommended to me by a friend, and rightfully so. The dragonfruit (which also happens to be an exotic fruit, mind you!) juice is a purple drink bottled up and served cold. Mango, orange and Dragonfruit among others come bottled in 150 ml bottles as cheap as 20 Baht. Definitely worth carrying some around in your backpack if you’re going to be out on the streets for the majority of the day.

4. Raw Mango Salad or Som Tum (Papaya) Salad:

These salads are unbelievably fresh, tangy and delicious! Most include peanuts, so if you’re allergic it’s best to specify right off the bat. Heaven knows these salads are the best food on Bangkok’s streets!

Bangkok people

5. Coconut Smoothie:

Feeling a bit adventurous (and thirsty) at the Chatuchak Weekend Market, I stopped at one among the many stalls serving coconut smoothies. It tastes heavily like coconut milk, but is made fresh from tender coconut and coconut milk as well as some sugar. Don’t expect this to be healthy, just expect it to taste real good! These stalls also serve several other smoothies including mango, strawberry and a combination of a lot of other flavours.

Bangkok Street Stall selling smoothies

6. Coconut Ice Cream:

The best place to try this is at the Chatuchak weekend market, though it’s available at Khao San and Sukhumvit as well. You can pick your toppings, including some particularly peculiar ones on offer, such as corn, peanuts and steamed blue rice.

7. Tom Yum Goong:

The sheer quantity of the tom yum soup with prawn or sea food is good enough to serve as a meal in itself. It’s quite spicy and I would recommend you proceed with caution since it could have certain dramatic effects on even the most accustomed of stomachs.